Recommending Preferred Ringer Settings For A Mobile Communications Device

ABSTRACT

Recommending preferred ringer settings for a mobile communications device, including: receiving, from one or more mobile communications devices, location information identifying a location of the mobile communications device; receiving, from one or more mobile communications devices, ringer setting information identifying a ringer setting of the mobile communications device; identifying one or more location zones; and determining, in dependence upon the location information and the ringer setting information, preferred ringer settings for each of the one or more location zones.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of and claims priorityfrom U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/096,084, filed on Dec. 4, 2013.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically,methods, apparatus, and products for recommending preferred ringersettings for a mobile communications device.

2. Description Of Related Art

Mobile communications devices, such as smartphones, have become widelyused as a large number of people currently own such mobilecommunications devices. Such mobile communications devices can alert theuser of the mobile communications device to an incoming communicationsmessage, such as a text message, an incoming phone call, an incomingelectronic mail message, and so on. Mobile communications devices canalert the user of the mobile communications device to an incomingcommunications message, for example, through the use of a ‘ringer’ thatproduces audible sound via an embedded speaker. In many situations,however, the production of audible sound via an embedded speaker may beinappropriate. For example, the production of audible sound via anembedded speaker may be inappropriate when a user of the mobilecommunications device is taking a test, attending a wedding, attending achurch sermon, and so on. In other situations, disabling the productionof audible sound via an embedded speaker may cause the user of themobile communications device to miss an important incoming datacommunications message.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Methods, apparatuses, and products for recommending preferred ringersettings for a mobile communications device, including: receiving, fromone or more mobile communications devices, location informationidentifying a location of the mobile communications device; receiving,from one or more mobile communications devices, ringer settinginformation identifying a ringer setting of the mobile communicationsdevice; identifying one or more location zones; and determining, independence upon the location information and the ringer settinginformation, preferred ringer settings for each of the one or morelocation zones.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of theinvention will be apparent from the following more particulardescriptions of example embodiments of the invention as illustrated inthe accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers generallyrepresent like parts of example embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 sets forth a block diagram of automated computing machinerycomprising an example computer useful in recommending preferred ringersettings for a mobile communications device according to embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 sets forth a flow chart illustrating an example method forrecommending preferred ringer settings for a mobile communicationsdevice according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 sets forth a flow chart illustrating an additional example methodfor recommending preferred ringer settings for a mobile communicationsdevice according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 sets forth a flow chart illustrating an additional example methodfor recommending preferred ringer settings for a mobile communicationsdevice according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 sets forth a flow chart illustrating an additional example methodfor recommending preferred ringer settings for a mobile communicationsdevice according to embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Example methods, apparatuses, and products for recommending preferredringer settings for a mobile communications device in accordance withthe present invention are described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, beginning with FIG. 1. FIG. 1 sets forth a block diagram ofautomated computing machinery comprising an example computer (152)useful in recommending preferred ringer settings for a mobilecommunications device according to embodiments of the present invention.The computer (152) of FIG. 1 includes at least one computer processor(156) or ‘CPU’ as well as random access memory (168) (‘RAM’) which isconnected through a high speed memory bus (166) and bus adapter (158) toprocessor (156) and to other components of the computer (152).

Stored in RAM (168) is a recommendation module (192), a module ofcomputer program instructions for recommending preferred ringer settingsfor a mobile communications device according to embodiments of thepresent invention. Such a mobile communications device may be embodiedas a smartphone, as a personal digital assistant, as a tablet computer,or as any other computing device configured to use a ringer to notify auser of the mobile communications device of an incoming communicationsmessage. The ringer settings for such a mobile communications device maybe used to specify the manner in which the mobile communications devicemay deliver a notification of an incoming communications message to theuser of the mobile communications device. The ringer settings mayindicate, for example, that the mobile communications device shoulddeliver a notification of an incoming communications message to the userthrough the use of a ‘vibrate’ mode where the mobile communicationsdevice vibrates without delivering an audible signal, that the mobilecommunications device should deliver a notification of an incomingcommunications message to the user through the use of an audible signaldelivered by an embedded speaker according to a particular volumesetting, that the mobile communications device should deliver anotification of an incoming communications message to the user throughthe use of a ‘silent’ mode where the mobile communications deviceneither vibrates nor emits an audible signal, and so on.

The recommendation module (192) of FIG. 1 may be configured to recommendpreferred ringer settings for a mobile communications device byreceiving, from one or more mobile communications devices, locationinformation identifying a location of the mobile communications device.Location information can include, for example, global position system(‘GPS’) coordinates for the mobile communications device, anidentification of a particular network that the mobile communicationsdevice is connected to (e.g., a ‘library’ network, a ‘Starbucks’network, a ‘public’ network), an identification of wireless router whoselocation is known that the mobile communications device is connected to,and so on. The location information identifying a location of the mobilecommunications device may be received from one or more mobilecommunications devices by the one or more mobile communications deviceseach sending a message that includes the location information to therecommendation module (192), by the recommendation module (192) pollingthe one or more mobile communications devices for location information,and so on.

The recommendation module (192) of FIG. 1 may be configured to recommendpreferred ringer settings for a mobile communications device byreceiving, from one or more mobile communications devices, ringersetting information identifying a ringer setting of the mobilecommunications device. The ringer setting information may include, forexample, information specifying whether an embedded speaker within themobile communications device is enabled to deliver an audible signalindicating that an incoming communications message has been received,information specifying a volume level for an embedded speaker within themobile communications device, information specifying whether a vibratefunction for the mobile communications device is enabled to cause themobile communications device to vibrate when an incoming communicationsmessage has been received, and so on. The ringer setting information maybe received from one or more mobile communications devices by the one ormore mobile communications devices each sending a message that includesthe ringer setting information to the recommendation module (192), bythe recommendation module (192) polling the one or more mobilecommunications devices for ringer setting information, and so on.

The recommendation module (192) of FIG. 1 may be configured to recommendpreferred ringer settings for a mobile communications device byidentifying one or more location zones. A location zone can represent aparticular area where all locations contained within the location zoneare treated as being identical for the purpose of recommending preferredringer settings. For example, a location zone may represent a largelibrary where all locations within the library are treated as beingidentical for the purpose of recommending preferred ringer settings.Likewise, a location zone may represent a large football stadium whereall locations within the football stadium are treated as being identicalfor the purpose of recommending preferred ringer settings.

Identifying one or more location zones may be carried out, for example,by identifying areas where mobile communications devices within eacharea have similar ringer settings. Consider an example in which therecommendation module (192) receives location information and ringersettings information from one hundred mobile communications devices,where the one hundred mobile communications devices are within onehundred yards of each other. In such an example, further assume that 90%of such mobile communications devices indicate that they are set to a‘silent’ mode as described above. In such an example, the recommendationmodule (192) may identify the area containing the one hundred mobilecommunications devices as a particular location zone, given thatrelatively uniform ringer settings are adopted by the mobilecommunications devices within that particular location zone. In such anexample, the particular location zone may represent a library, aclassroom, a church, a funeral home, a performance hall, or otherlocation where users of mobile communications devices would tend todisable a ringer for the mobile communications device.

The recommendation module (192) of FIG. 1 may be configured to recommendpreferred ringer settings for a mobile communications device bydetermining, in dependence upon the location information and the ringersetting information, preferred ringer settings for each of the one ormore location zones. Determining preferred ringer settings for each ofthe one or more location zones may be carried out using the locationinformation and the ringer setting information received from each of themobile communications devices that are within a particular locationzone, such that the most common ringer settings for the mobilecommunications devices that are within a particular location zone may beidentified. In such a way, the preferred ringer settings for aparticular location zone may be set to match the most common ringersettings for the mobile communications devices that are within theparticular location zone. Readers will appreciate that therecommendation module (192) may utilize crowd sourcing techniques todetermine preferred ringer settings for each of the one or more locationzones utilizing ringer setting information retrieved from mobilecommunication devices within each of the one or more location zones.

Determining preferred ringer settings for each of the one or morelocation zones may be carried out through the use of selection rulesthat take into account the ringer setting information for each mobilecommunications device in a particular location zone. Such ringerselection rules may be configured, for example, to select the mostcommonly used ringer setting amongst the mobile communications devicesin a particular location zone as the preferred ringer settings formobile communications devices in the particular location zone.Alternatively, the ringer selection rules may be configured to selectringer settings utilized by at least a predetermined thresholdpercentage of the mobile communications devices in a particular locationzone as the preferred ringer settings for mobile communications devicesin the particular location zone. The ringer selection rules may giveheavier weight to the ringer setting information for particular mobilecommunications devices such as a mobile communications device designatedas an administrator device, a device that has recently changed itsringer settings in view of the fact that the ringer settings for such amobile communications device are being actively monitored, and so on.

Also stored in RAM (168) is an operating system (154). Operating systemsuseful recommending preferred ringer settings for a mobilecommunications device according to embodiments of the present inventioninclude UNIX™, Linux™, Microsoft XP™, AIX™, IBM's i5/OS™, and others aswill occur to those of skill in the art. The operating system (154) andthe recommendation module (192) in the example of FIG. 1 are shown inRAM (168), but many components of such software typically are stored innon-volatile memory also, such as, for example, on a disk drive (170).

The computer (152) of FIG. 1 includes disk drive adapter (172) coupledthrough expansion bus (160) and bus adapter (158) to processor (156) andother components of the computer (152). Disk drive adapter (172)connects non-volatile data storage to the computer (152) in the form ofdisk drive (170). Disk drive adapters useful in computers forrecommending preferred ringer settings for a mobile communicationsdevice according to embodiments of the present invention includeIntegrated Drive Electronics (‘IDE’) adapters, Small Computer SystemInterface (‘SCSI’) adapters, and others as will occur to those of skillin the art. Non-volatile computer memory also may be implemented for asan optical disk drive, electrically erasable programmable read-onlymemory (so-called ‘EEPROM’ or ‘Flash’ memory), RAM drives, and so on, aswill occur to those of skill in the art.

The example computer (152) of FIG. 1 includes one or more input/output(‘I/O’) adapters (178). I/O adapters implement user-orientedinput/output through, for example, software drivers and computerhardware for controlling output to display devices such as computerdisplay screens, as well as user input from user input devices (181)such as keyboards and mice. The example computer (152) of FIG. 1includes a video adapter (209), which is an example of an I/O adapterspecially designed for graphic output to a display device (180) such asa display screen or computer monitor. Video adapter (209) is connectedto processor (156) through a high speed video bus (164), bus adapter(158), and the front side bus (162), which is also a high speed bus.

The example computer (152) of FIG. 1 includes a communications adapter(167) for data communications with other computers (182) and for datacommunications with a data communications network (100). Such datacommunications may be carried out serially through RS-232 connections,through external buses such as a Universal Serial Bus (‘USB’), throughdata communications networks such as IP data communications networks,and in other ways as will occur to those of skill in the art.Communications adapters implement the hardware level of datacommunications through which one computer sends data communications toanother computer, directly or through a data communications network.Examples of communications adapters useful for recommending preferredringer settings for a mobile communications device according toembodiments of the present invention include modems for wired dial-upcommunications, Ethernet (IEEE 802.3) adapters for wired datacommunications network communications, mobile communications adaptersfor wireless communications over a telecommunications network such as along term evolution (‘LTE’) network, and 802.11 adapters for wirelessdata communications network communications.

For further explanation, FIG. 2 sets forth a flow chart illustrating anexample method for recommending preferred ringer settings for a mobilecommunications device according to embodiments of the present invention.In the example method of FIG. 2, the mobile communications device (212)may be embodied as a smartphone, as a personal digital assistant, as atablet computer, or as any other computing device configured to use aringer to notify a user of the mobile communications device (212) of anincoming communications message. The ringer settings for such a mobilecommunications device (212) may be used to specify the manner in whichthe mobile communications device (212) may deliver a notification of anincoming communications message to the user of the mobile communicationsdevice (212). The ringer settings may indicate, for example, that themobile communications device (212) should deliver a notification of anincoming communications message to the user through the use of a‘vibrate’ mode where the mobile communications device (212) vibrateswithout delivering an audible signal, that the mobile communicationsdevice (212) should deliver a notification of an incoming communicationsmessage to the user through the use of an audible signal delivered by anembedded speaker according to a particular volume setting, that themobile communications device (212) should deliver a notification of anincoming communications message to the user through the use of a‘silent’ mode where the mobile communications device (212) neithervibrates nor emits an audible signal, and so on.

The example method of FIG. 2 is depicted as being carried out, at leastin part, by a recommendation module (202). The recommendation module(202) of FIG. 2 may be embodied, for example, as a module of computerprogram instructions executing on computer hardware such as a computerprocessor. The recommendation module (202) of FIG. 2 may reside, forexample, on a server maintained by a provider of mobile communicationsconnectivity such as a telecommunications provider, on a servermaintained by a provider of recommended preferred ringer settings formobile communications devices, and so on.

The example method depicted in FIG. 2 includes receiving (204), from oneor more mobile communications devices (212), location information (214)identifying a location of the mobile communications device (212). In theexample method depicted in FIG. 2, location information (214) caninclude, for example, GPS coordinates for the mobile communicationsdevice (212), an identification of a particular network that the mobilecommunications device (212) is connected to (e.g., a ‘library’ network,a ‘Starbucks’ network, a ‘public’ network), an identification ofwireless router whose location is known that the mobile communicationsdevice (212) is connected to, and so on. In the example method of FIG.2, the location information (214) identifying a location of the mobilecommunications device (212) may be received (204) from one or moremobile communications devices (212) by the one or more mobilecommunications devices (212) each sending a message that includes thelocation information (214) to the recommendation module (202), by therecommendation module (202) polling the one or more mobilecommunications devices (212) for location information (214), and so on.

The example method depicted in FIG. 2 also includes receiving (206),from one or more mobile communications devices (212), ringer settinginformation (216) identifying a ringer setting of the mobilecommunications device (212). In the example method depicted in FIG. 2,the ringer setting information (216) may include, for example,information specifying whether an embedded speaker within the mobilecommunications device (212) is enabled to deliver an audible signalindicating that an incoming communications message has been received,information specifying a volume level for an embedded speaker within themobile communications device (212), information specifying whether avibrate function for the mobile communications device (212) is enabledto cause the mobile communications device (212) to vibrate when anincoming communications message has been received, and so on. In theexample method of FIG. 2, the ringer setting information (216) may bereceived (206) from one or more mobile communications devices (212) bythe one or more mobile communications devices (212) each sending amessage that includes the ringer setting information (216) to therecommendation module (202), by the recommendation module (202) pollingthe one or more mobile communications devices (212) for ringer settinginformation (216), and so on.

The example method depicted in FIG. 2 also includes identifying (208)one or more location zones. In the example method of FIG. 2, a locationzone represents a particular area where all locations contained withinthe location zone are treated as being identical for the purpose ofrecommending preferred ringer settings. For example, a location zone mayrepresent a large library where all locations within the library aretreated as being identical for the purpose of recommending preferredringer settings. Likewise, a location zone may represent a largefootball stadium where all locations within the football stadium aretreated as being identical for the purpose of recommending preferredringer settings.

In the example method of FIG. 2, identifying (208) one or more locationzones may be carried out, for example, by identifying areas where mobilecommunications devices (212) within each area have similar ringersettings. Consider an example in which the recommendation module (202)receives location information and ringer settings information from onehundred mobile communications devices, where the one hundred mobilecommunications devices are within one hundred yards of each other. Insuch an example, further assume that 90% of such mobile communicationsdevices indicate that they are set to a ‘silent’ mode as describedabove. In such an example, the recommendation module (202) may identify(208) the area containing the one hundred mobile communications devicesas a particular location zone, given that relatively uniform ringersettings are adopted by the mobile communications devices within thatparticular location zone. In such an example, the particular locationzone may represent a library, a classroom, a church, a funeral home, aperformance hall, or other location where users of mobile communicationsdevices would tend to disable a ringer for the mobile communicationsdevice. Alternatively, the particular location zone may represent a loudrestaurant, a home, or other location where users of mobilecommunications devices would tend to enable a ringer for the mobilecommunications device.

The example method depicted in FIG. 2 also includes determining (210),in dependence upon the location information (214) and the ringer settinginformation (216), preferred ringer settings for each of the one or morelocation zones. In the example method of FIG. 2, determining (210)preferred ringer settings for each of the one or more location zones maybe carried out using the location information (214) and the ringersetting information (216) received from each of the mobilecommunications devices (212) that are within a particular location zone,such that the most common ringer settings for the mobile communicationsdevices (212) that are within a particular location zone may beidentified. In such a way, the preferred ringer settings for aparticular location zone may be set to match the most common ringersettings for the mobile communications devices (212) that are within theparticular location zone. Readers will appreciate that therecommendation module (202) may utilize crowd sourcing techniques todetermine (210) preferred ringer settings for each of the one or morelocation zones utilizing ringer setting information (216) retrieved frommobile communication devices (212) within each of the one or morelocation zones.

In the example method of FIG. 2, determining (210) preferred ringersettings for each of the one or more location zones may be carried outthrough the use of selection rules that take into account the ringersetting information (216) for each mobile communications device in aparticular location zone. Such ringer selection rules may be configured,for example, to select the most commonly used ringer setting amongst themobile communications devices in a particular location zone as thepreferred ringer settings for mobile communications devices in theparticular location zone. Alternatively, the ringer selection rules maybe configured to select ringer settings utilized by at least apredetermined threshold percentage of the mobile communications devicesin a particular location zone as the preferred ringer settings formobile communications devices in the particular location zone. In theexample method of FIG. 2, the ringer selection rules may give heavierweight to the ringer setting information (216) for particular mobilecommunications devices such as a mobile communications device designatedas an administrator device, a device that has recently changed itsringer settings in view of the fact that the ringer settings for such amobile communications device are being actively monitored, and so on.

For further explanation, FIG. 3 sets forth a flow chart illustrating anadditional example method for recommending preferred ringer settings fora mobile communications device according to embodiments of the presentinvention. The example method depicted in FIG. 3 is similar to theexample method depicted in FIG. 2, as it also includes receiving (204)location information (214) identifying a location of the mobilecommunications device (212), receiving (206) ringer setting information(216) identifying a ringer setting of the mobile communications device(212), identifying (208) one or more location zones, and determining(210) preferred ringer settings for each of the one or more locationzones in dependence upon the location information (214) and the ringersetting information (216).

The example method depicted in FIG. 3 also includes receiving (302),from an unconfigured mobile communications device (310), locationinformation (312) identifying a location of the unconfigured mobilecommunications device (310). In the example method of FIG. 3, theunconfigured mobile communications device (310) represents a mobilecommunications device that has not received an identification ofpreferred ringer settings for mobile communications devices within thesame area that the unconfigured mobile communications device (310) iswithin. Readers will appreciate that a particular mobile communicationsdevice may therefore transition from being a ‘configured’ mobilecommunications device to an unconfigured mobile communications device(310) by physically moving between different location zones. In theexample method of FIG. 3, the location information (312) identifying alocation of the unconfigured mobile communications device (310) may bereceived (302) from the unconfigured mobile communications device (310)by the unconfigured mobile communications device (310) sending a messagethat includes the location information (312) to the recommendationmodule (202), by the recommendation module (202) polling theunconfigured mobile communications device (310) for location information(312), and so on.

The example method depicted in FIG. 3 also includes determining (304),in dependence upon the location of the unconfigured mobilecommunications device (310), a location zone of the unconfigured mobilecommunications device (310). As described above, the recommendationmodule (202) identifies (208) one or more location zones. In order todetermine (304) the location zone of the unconfigured mobilecommunications device (310), the recommendation module (202) may examinethe location information (312) received from the unconfigured mobilecommunications device (310) and compare the location of the unconfiguredmobile communications device (310) to the identified location zones todetermine whether the unconfigured mobile communications device (310) islocated within any of the one or more identified location zones.

The example method depicted in FIG. 3 also includes sending (306), tothe unconfigured mobile communications device (312), preferred ringersettings (308) for the location zone of the unconfigured mobilecommunications device (310). As described above, preferred ringersettings may be determined (210) for each of the one or more identifiedlocation zones. In such a way, after the location zone of theunconfigured mobile communications device (310) has been determined(304), the recommendation module (202) may subsequently retrieve thepreferred ringer settings for the location zone of the unconfiguredmobile communications device (310). The recommendation module (202) maythen send (306) the preferred ringer settings (308) for the locationzone of the unconfigured mobile communications device (310) to theunconfigured mobile communications device (312). In the example methodof FIG. 3, sending (306) the preferred ringer settings (308) for thelocation zone of the unconfigured mobile communications device (310) tothe unconfigured mobile communications device (312) may be carried out,for example by sending the preferred ringer settings (308) to theunconfigured mobile communications device (312) in a message over a datacommunications network that connects the recommendation module (202) andthe unconfigured mobile communications device (310).

For further explanation, FIG. 4 sets forth a flow chart illustrating anadditional example method for recommending preferred ringer settings fora mobile communications device according to embodiments of the presentinvention. The example method depicted in FIG. 4 is similar to theexample method depicted in FIG. 2, as it also includes receiving (204)location information (214) identifying a location of the mobilecommunications device (212), receiving (206) ringer setting information(216) identifying a ringer setting of the mobile communications device(212), identifying (208) one or more location zones, and determining(210) preferred ringer settings for each of the one or more locationzones in dependence upon the location information (214) and the ringersetting information (216).

As described above with reference to FIG. 3, the recommendation module(202) may send preferred ringer settings (308 of FIG. 3) to anunconfigured mobile communications device (310 of FIG. 3). In otherembodiments, preferred ringer settings may be sent to all mobilecommunications devices in each location zone. As such, any mobilecommunications device that receives preferred ringer settings from therecommendation module (202) may treat the receipt of such ringersettings as a recommendation from the recommendation module (202) thatthe recipient mobile communications device adopt the preferred ringersettings, referred to in FIG. 4 as ‘recommended ringer settings.’ Inresponse to the receipt of such recommended ringer settings, a mobilecommunications device may choose to accept such a recommendation andadopt the recommended ringer settings, or the mobile communicationsdevice may choose to reject such a recommendation and not adopt therecommended ringer settings.

The example method depicted in FIG. 4 includes receiving (402), from amobile communications device (414), a rejection (406) of recommendedringer settings. In the example method of FIG. 4, receiving (402) therejection (406) of recommended ringer settings from the mobilecommunications device (414) may be carried out by the mobilecommunications device (414) sending a message to the recommendationmodule (202) indicating that the mobile communications device (414) didnot adopt the recommended ringer settings. In such an example, a user ofthe mobile communications device (414) may reject the recommended ringersettings through the use of a GUI presented by the mobile communicationsdevice (414). The GUI presented by the mobile communications device(414) may include, for example, details describing the recommendedringer settings, icons that enable the user to reject or accept therecommended ringer settings, and so on.

The example method depicted in FIG. 4 also includes updating (404), independence upon the rejection (406) of recommended ringer settings,preferred ringer settings for a location zone that includes the mobilecommunications device (414). As described above, determining (210)preferred ringer settings for each of the one or more location zones maybe carried out through the use of selection rules. In the example methodof FIG. 4, updating (404) preferred ringer settings for a location zonethat includes the mobile communications device (414) may also utilizesuch selection rules. Updating (404) preferred ringer settings for alocation zone that includes the mobile communications device (414) maybe done in dependence upon the rejection (406) of recommended ringersettings, such that the rejection (406) of the recommended ringersettings represents an additional mobile communications device in thelocation zone that is making use of ringer settings other than therecommended ringer settings. The selection rules may even assign agreater weight to the ringer settings of the mobile communicationsdevice (414) in view of the fact that the user of the mobilecommunications device (414) actively evaluated and rejected therecommended ringer settings, whereas users of other mobilecommunications devices may have simply entered into the location zonewith preexisting ringer settings intact.

The example method depicted in FIG. 4 can alternatively includereceiving (408), from the mobile communications device (414), anacceptance (412) of recommended ringer settings. In the example methodof FIG. 4, receiving (408) an acceptance (412) of recommended ringersettings from the mobile communications device (414) may be carried outby the mobile communications device (414) sending a message to therecommendation module (202) indicating that the mobile communicationsdevice (414) adopted the recommended ringer settings. In such anexample, a user of the mobile communications device (414) may accept therecommended ringer settings through the use of a GUI presented by themobile communications device (414). The GUI presented by the mobilecommunications device (414) may include, for example, details describingthe recommended ringer settings, icons that enable the user to reject oraccept the recommended ringer settings, and so on.

The example method depicted in FIG. 4 can also include updating (410),in dependence upon the acceptance (412) of recommended ringer settings,preferred ringer settings for a location zone that includes the mobilecommunications device (414). As described above, determining (210)preferred ringer settings for each of the one or more location zones maybe carried out through the use of selection rules. In the example methodof FIG. 4, updating (410) preferred ringer settings for a location zonethat includes the mobile communications device (414) may also utilizesuch selection rules. Updating (410) preferred ringer settings for alocation zone that includes the mobile communications device (414) maybe done in dependence upon the acceptance (412) of recommended ringersettings, such that the acceptance (412) of the recommended ringersettings represents an additional mobile communications device in thelocation zone that is making use of ringer settings other than therecommended ringer settings. The selection rules may even assign agreater weight to the ringer settings of the mobile communicationsdevice (414) in view of the fact that the user of the mobilecommunications device (414) actively evaluated and accepted therecommended ringer settings, whereas users of other mobilecommunications devices may have simply entered into the location zonewith preexisting ringer settings intact.

For further explanation, FIG. 5 sets forth a flow chart illustrating anadditional example method for recommending preferred ringer settings fora mobile communications device according to embodiments of the presentinvention. The example method depicted in FIG. 5 is similar to theexample method depicted in FIG. 2, as it also includes receiving (204)location information (214) identifying a location of the mobilecommunications device (212), receiving (206) ringer setting information(216) identifying a ringer setting of the mobile communications device(212), identifying (208) one or more location zones, and determining(210) preferred ringer settings for each of the one or more locationzones in dependence upon the location information (214) and the ringersetting information (216).

In the example method depicted in FIG. 5, determining (210) preferredringer settings for each of the one or more location zones in dependenceupon the location information (214) and the ringer setting information(216) can include determining (502) whether the ringer settings for eachof the one or more mobile communications devices (212) were activelyset. In the example method of FIG. 5, ringer settings are ‘actively set’for a mobile communications device, for example, when a user of aparticular mobile communications device accepts or rejects recommendedringer settings as described above with reference to FIG. 4, when a userof a mobile communications device changes the ringer settings of themobile communications device without prompting, or in other situationswhere the user of the mobile communications device indicates that theringer settings for a particular mobile communications device have beenselected rather than merely carried over from a previous setting. Insuch an example, determining (502) whether the ringer settings for eachof the one or more mobile communications devices (212) were actively setmay be carried out by receiving a rejection or acceptance of recommendedsettings, by receiving new ringer settings from a mobile communicationsdevice that had previously communicated its ringer settings to therecommendation module (202), and so on.

In the example method depicted in FIG. 5, determining (210) preferredringer settings for each of the one or more location zones in dependenceupon the location information (214) and the ringer setting information(216) can also include assigning (504) a greater weighting to the ringersettings for each of the one or more mobile communications devices (212)that were actively set. As described above, determining (210) preferredringer settings for each of the one or more location zones may becarried out through the use of selection rules. The selection rules maybe configured such that a greater weight is assigned (504) to those tothe ringer settings of the mobile communications devices for which theringer settings were actively set, as the ringer settings which wereactively set were evaluated and accepted, whereas users of other mobilecommunications devices may have simply entered into the location zonewith preexisting ringer settings intact.

The example method of FIG. 5 also includes maintaining (506) a preferredringer settings repository (508). In the example method of FIG. 5, eachentry in the referred ringer settings repository (508) can associate aparticular location zone with preferred ringer settings for eachlocation zone. Such a preferred ringer settings repository (508) may beembodied, for example, as a database, as a table, or as other datastructures stored in computer memory.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.”Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of acomputer program product embodied in one or more computer readablemedium(s) having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

Aspects of the present invention are described above with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that modificationsand changes may be made in various embodiments of the present inventionwithout departing from its true spirit. The descriptions in thisspecification are for purposes of illustration only and are not to beconstrued in a limiting sense. The scope of the present invention islimited only by the language of the following claims.

1. A method of recommending preferred ringer settings for a mobile communications device, the method comprising: receiving, from one or more mobile communications devices, location information identifying a location of the mobile communications device; receiving, from one or more mobile communications devices, ringer setting information identifying a ringer setting of the mobile communications device; identifying one or more location zones; and determining, in dependence upon the location information and the ringer setting information, preferred ringer settings for each of the one or more location zones.
 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving, from an unconfigured mobile communications device, location information identifying a location of the unconfigured mobile communications device; determining, in dependence upon the location of the unconfigured mobile communications device, a location zone of the unconfigured mobile communications device; and sending, to the unconfigured mobile communications device, preferred ringer settings for the location zone of the unconfigured mobile communications device.
 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving, from a mobile communications device, a rejection of recommended ringer settings; and updating, in dependence upon the rejection of recommended ringer settings, preferred ringer settings for a location zone that includes the mobile communications device.
 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising: receiving, from a mobile communications device, an acceptance of recommended ringer settings; and updating, in dependence upon the acceptance of recommended ringer settings, preferred ringer settings for a location zone that includes the mobile communications device.
 5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining, in dependence upon the location information and the ringer setting information, preferred ringer settings for each of the one or more location zones further comprises: determining whether the ringer settings for each of the one or more mobile communications devices were actively set; and assigning a greater weighting to the ringer settings for each of the one or more mobile communications devices that were actively set.
 6. The method of claim 1 further comprising maintaining a preferred ringer settings repository, the preferred ringer settings repository associating a particular location zone with preferred ringer settings for each location zone. 7-20. (canceled) 